The University of Maine and the War
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The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine General University of Maine Publications University of Maine Publications 1-1918 The University of Maine and The War University of Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the History Commons Repository Citation University of Maine, "The University of Maine and The War" (1918). General University of Maine Publications. 188. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications/188 This Monograph is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in General University of Maine Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of Maine a n d T h e W a r THE UN IV E R S IT Y OF R a y m o n d H F o g l e r L i b r a r y O r o n o M a i n e The Maine Bulletin Entered at the Post Office at Orono as second class matter Published monthly during the academic year Vol. X X University of Maine, Orono, Maine, January, 1918 N o. 6 The University of Maine and The War PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS ORONO, M AIN E Foreword HIS PAMPHLET IS PREPARED FOR THE PUR POSE OF GIVING INFORMATION TO THE ALUMNI, STUDENTS, AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE. IT IS BE LIEVED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PERMANENT RECORD MADE OF THE WAR SERVICES OF THE IN STITUTION. W HILE CAREFUL INQUIRY HAS BEEN MADE, IT IS DOUBTLESS TRUE THAT MANY OF THE SONS OF MAINE NOW IN THE SERVICE ARE NOT HERE RECORDED. IT IS HOPED THAT EVERY ONE INTO WHOSE HANDS THIS PAMPHLET FALLS WILL BE KIND ENOUGH TO FORWARD TO THE UNIVER SITY CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE IN FORMATION ALREADY GIVEN. AT A LATER DATE THE INSTITUTION WILL ISSUE ANOTHER EDITION OF THIS BULLETIN AND MAKE IT COMPLETE AND ACCURATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR. The University and The War Immediately following the declaration of war, meetings of students and the faculty were held in which methods of service were discussed and outlined. It was not necessary to urge loyalty. That was spon taneous, enthusiastic, and unstinted. A telegram was sent to the President of the United States offering him the services of the institution without any reservations whatever. A reply of cordial appreciation was received from the White House. Secretary of War Baker was furnished detailed information as to the University’s facilities in technical and scientific fields. The Uni versity indicated its readiness to use all its facilities, both of equipment and men, in any service demanded by the War Department. It also o f fered to modify courses and start new ones to meet specific needs. The Governor and Council of the State of Maine were kept informed as to the war activities of the University and w e r e a s k e d make sug gestions for other forms of service. The daily schedule was changed by shortening the hours so that additional time was made available for military instruction. Many students who had completed the required military work at once enrolled i n t h new classes that were formed. Particular attention was given to classes for the training of prospective officers. Many of the men who took advantage of these courses have since received commissions. In the weeks immediately following the declaration of war, large numbers of students enlisted in various branches of the service. Many other students left the campus to take positions on farms or in muni 3 THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE tion factories. All students who left early to engage in work of any sort made necessary by the war were given full credit for the semester. During the spring semester, courses were given in First Aid by Dr. Young. Among the girls, there were approximately 125 students en rolled in these courses. Many finished the course, took the examination, and received the First Aid certificate from the American Red Cross Society. Among the men courses were given in First Aid, bandaging, stretcher work, camp sanitation, and anesthetics. In these classes, Dr. Young was assisted for a time by Dr. Wilkins of Old Town. A special appropriation was made from the War Contingent Fund by the Governor and Council for special war courses at the summer session. Instruction was given in First Aid by Dr. Young and the members of the class took the examination at the close of the session. Provision was also made for courses in gardening and military tactics, but the season was too late for gardens and so few men enrolled in the summer school that there was practically no call for the military work. During the summer special effort was made to inform the people of the State of the necessary contribution that education must make not only for the prosecution of the war but also for the rehabilitation of the country when peace comes. All undergraduates not in actual ser vice were urged to return to the University and continue their education. Preparatory school graduates were urged to enter college in order that they might prepare for larger service. The attendance for this year is about seventy percent of that of last year. The student body is characterized by great earnestness. The work in all departments is unusually good. Great interest is taken in military work and more time is given to it than heretofore. Many members of the faculty have been given leave of absence to enter the service of the Government; some in the army, some in the navy, and many others as experts in the departments at Washington. Dean Merrill of the College of Agriculture is the Federal Food Administrator for Maine with headquarters in Winslow Hall. The various activities of members of the faculty are shown in the published list which follows. In the latter part of October, the girls of the University conceived the idea of sending to undergraduates of the University of Maine in the service Christmas packages. The financial response to the request 4 AND THE WAR made by the girls was liberal. They prepared and sent about 200 pack ages, some overseas and the others to men in camps in the United States. That these were highly appreciated by the men is shown in the letters received from them, some of which are printed in this bulletin. SERVICE FLAG PRESENTED (Clipping from ‘‘The Campus" of February5) At the chapel exercises held in Alumni Hall on Monday morning, January 28, the student body was given a surprise when President Aley requested the students to open the services by the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and then presented to the student body a huge ser vice flag as a gift from the Junior Mask, the honorary Junior society. The flag had been skillfully rolled into a ball and then suspended from the back of the Assembly Hall in such a manner that at President Aley’s signal it was suddenly dropped into full view. The flag is an immense one, being ten feet by six, and is of the patented design with red border and a white field. Instead of numerous small stars, each representing a man in the country’s service, this flag contains one large blue star upon which are sewed the white numerals, 609. President Aley spoke of the significant fact that altho the flag had been ordered but two weeks ago the records in the university’s office showed an increase of sixty- three more Maine men within that short time. He then stated that, of these 609 men in service, there are now 288 officers and this figure does not include the Maine men now in training camps from which they will be graduated as officers. After reading a poem by Rupert Brooke as an expresion of the spirit which has caused these men to enter their country’s service, President Aley spoke at some length on the principles for which these men are willing to offer up their lives. In closing, he spoke of four Maine men who have already in this war made the “supreme sacrifice” and told of the blinding, perhaps for life, of a fifth Maine man, by a gas attack. 5 THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE These have made the Supreme S a c r i f i c e HAROLD TAYLOR ANDREWS ’18 RAY IRVING GODING ’20 DONALD EDWARD CAMPBELL ’20 IRA MILLER BRADBURY ’14 6 AND THE WAR ALUMNI AND UNDERGRADUATES •Temporarily released from active service to return to college Enlisted or drafted. Waiting to be called Temporarily released from service to return to college. Recalled to active service 1884 E. F. Ladd, Phi Gamma Delta, Member of Federal Food Commission, appointed by President Wilson, N. D. Agricultural College, Fargo, N. D. 1893 W. W. Crosby, Beta Theta Pi, Lieutenant Colonel, in acting command, Camp McClellan, Ala. H. M. Smith, Beta Theta Pi, Major, 1st Maine Heavy Field Artillery. Discharged for physical disability, January 21, 1918 1895 tA. H. Buck, Beta Theta Pi, Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps Charles D. Thomas, Kappa Sigma, Captain, Co. B, 507th U.S. Engineers, Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas 1896 F. A. Hobbs, Alpha Tau Omega, 2d Lieutenant, Quartermaster Corps, Base Hospital, Camp Devens, Mass. P. F. Walker, Phi Gamma Delta, Lieutenant Colonel, 109th U.S. Engi neers, Camp Cody, N. M. G. B. Wilkins, Kappa Sigma, Civil Engineer, U.S. Naval Reserves 7 THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE 1897 S.